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Are Customers Aware of How Their Utility Stacks up to Energy Efficiency

Last week, CleanEnergy.org published this article asking customers if they knew how their utility stacks up compared with others when it comes to energy efficiency.

The article from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy released their 2018 energy efficiency report that rated the major Southeastern Utilities for their efficiency programs to highlight those who are are doing the most. While asking customers if they're aware of their utilities is one thing, I thought it would also bring forward some conversation about how, or whether, utilities are communicating this information to their customers.

What are the most effective ways to communicate your utility's energy efficiency program to customers?

Are you successful in bragging about the success of your energy efficiency programs?

Is communicating this information a high priority in your organization?

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I am not a utility professional. However, based on conversations with people from the industry, I believe a mix of communication media is used to reach out to customers. Social media, surprisingly, is not the primary or only means to reach out. Surveys, flyers, and weekly summary emails that detail how customers stacked up with regards to their energy goals are used. From what I understand, the latter are more effective as compared to social media, which is primarily used by consumers for personal updates and news.

That's an interesting take, Rakesh. I would wonder about how each of those types of messages would be received-- those engaging on social media would presumably be the customers who care about energy and are seeking out the information, whereas those receiving flyers or emails are more likely to not care and simply be receiving such information. Perhaps that latter crowd is the more important one with which to engage, as the former crowd will find and use the information regardless of its source.

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